Have a SMART 2026
Who has already crashed and burned on their New Year Resolutions?
Ok, so we’re just over a week into the new year, and the amount of people who’ve already told me they’ve gone bust on their New Year’s resolutions is genuinely impressive. Some didn’t even make it to the first weekend. A few didn’t make it past New Year’s Day lunch.
The most common reason isn’t laziness. It’s not a lack of willpower. It’s generally… overreaching.
January optimism is a powerful drug. We go from zero to monk, athlete, philosopher and productivity ninja overnight, then act shocked when real life shows up and wipes the floor with us.
This isn’t a character flaw. It’s simply a strategy problem.
And before anyone beats themselves up, this is exactly why I didn’t rush this piece out on January 1.
Because the real conversation starts after the confetti’s been swept up and the dopamine wears off.
If you use the Unshackled app or book daily, you’ll have seen the January 1 quote already. Plato didn’t mince words.
“The first and greatest victory is to conquer oneself.”
Not conquer the calendar. Not conquer the gym. Not conquer the perfectly curated morning routine.
Yourself.
The version of you that overpromises, underplans, and then quietly renegotiates the deal when it gets uncomfortable. Think of what goals you want to achieve, apply this principle and let me know how you get on.
That’s where SMART goals come in. Make the goals…
Specific, make them
Measurable, make them
Achievable, make them
Relevant and… lastly… make them…
Time bound.
Not glamorous. Not poetic. But brutally effective when used properly.
Specific
If your goal sounds good but falls apart the moment someone asks “how?”, it’s not specific.
“I want to get healthier” is a sentiment.
“I’ll walk for 30 minutes after dinner four nights a week” is a plan.
Specific goals remove ambiguity, and ambiguity is where excuses quietly set up camp.
Measurable
If you can’t measure it, your brain will absolutely lie to you.
“I’ve cut down a bit” can mean anything when there’s no ruler involved.
Measurable looks like:
“I’ll drink only on Saturdays.”
“I’ll save $50 a week.”
“I’ll meditate for 5 minutes a day.”
Measurement isn’t about pressure. It’s about honesty. And honesty is freedom.
Achievable
January loves extremes.
“I’m quitting sugar, alcohol, screens, carbs and negative people forever.”
Ambitious, yes. Sustainable, absolutely not.
An achievable goal might be:
“I’ll cook at home three nights a week.”
“I’ll replace one nightly drink with a walk.”
Small wins build momentum. Momentum builds belief. Belief changes behaviour.
Relevant
This is where Plato really earns his keep.
Ask yourself something uncomfortable. Is this goal actually about conquering myself, or am I trying to impress an imaginary audience?
A relevant goal aligns with your values, your peace, your relationships, your future. If it doesn’t meaningfully improve your life, it won’t survive the first inconvenience.
Time-bound
“Someday” is the most dangerous word in personal growth.
Goals without timelines drift.
Try: “For the next 30 days.”
“By March 1.”
“Every weekday this month.”
Time creates urgency, and urgency creates action.
Here’s the Unshackled truth just over a week into 2026. A new year doesn’t make you free. A new mindset doesn’t magically arrive because the date changed.
Freedom is built in small, repeatable decisions you honour when motivation fades.
There’s no guaranteed happiness waiting on the other side of a resolution. But there is something far more reliable.
Progress.
Self-respect.
Momentum.
So if your New Year’s resolutions have already gone bust, good. You’re right on schedule. Reset them. Refine them. Make them SMART. And remember, the first and greatest victory is still the same.
Conquer yourself.
Everything else follows.
Stay Unshackled, My Friends,
Stephen